I Know Its Down The Road A Bit...

#1
PineyBluff Vol

PineyBluff Vol

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#1
Does everyone that has watched Kentucky play get the impression that these games can be won. They do not seem to have it all together. I know some are going to say, and I agree, they are still winning. Watched them play Arkansas and they were played out of the gym the first half. Still, I think that two wins is highly possible.
 
#2
#2
I agree... but Rupp is still a big home court for them. The fans will bitch and moan, but they will still show up to watch the Cats play. These games ARE winnable... but that's assuming that Morris doesn't get things together. With him inside, they could feed it all day, and we couldn't stop him...
 
#3
#3
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
I agree... but Rupp is still a big home court for them. The fans will bitch and moan, but they will still show up to watch the Cats play. These games ARE winnable... but that's assuming that Morris doesn't get things together. With him inside, they could feed it all day, and we couldn't stop him...
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I don't think there's anything for Morris to "get together." He is a slightly above average player. Tennessee has played against a number of big men much better than him. My fear against UK is that Rondo will shread our pressure and get them numerous easy baskets.
 
#4
#4
no doubt sweeping UK would be great....but you gotta think that at some point they'll ge their act together and start playing like they are capable of playing.

I think we should split this at least, but a sweep isn't out of the realm of possibilities. Plus, you know UK won't be looking past us this season, and they do hate us up there. Bball is the only way they can stick it to us and have some sense of pride about their sports program over ours.

bottom line is, we need to win the home game. if we lose the game at Rupp, that won't kill us from a tourney standpoint.

 
#6
#6
I think LSU is the only team that we have played that has a big guy "much better" than Morris. Point being, you don't have to be a great inside player to put it in all day against us.

I'm not as worried about Rondo b/c of our overall team speed. When he goes to drive to the basket we SHOULD be able to cut him off... and if it isn't a layup, Rajon isn't likely to get it in the hoop.

If we keep playing our game, turnovers and the fast break, draining threes in between... not many teams in the country seem to be better.
 
#7
#7
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
I think LSU is the only team that we have played that has a big guy "much better" than Morris. Point being, you don't have to be a great inside player to put it in all day against us.

I'm not as worried about Rondo b/c of our overall team speed. When he goes to drive to the basket we SHOULD be able to cut him off... and if it isn't a layup, Rajon isn't likely to get it in the hoop.

If we keep playing our game, turnovers and the fast break, draining threes in between... not many teams in the country seem to be better.
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LaMarcus Aldridge would eat Randolph Morris for lunch. Also, when Cal convinces him to go in the post, Shawne Williams is an infinitely greater threat than Morris. You obviously have a higher opinion of our team speed than I do. Watson has good instincts but isn't exceptionally fast. Lofton and Bradshaw also fit into that category. Smith and Asumnu are the only guys with above average quickness and their instincts leave a lot to be desired. Rondo doesn't have to make shots to hurt us. If he beats the press it wil be LSU Part II. Layups for his teammates. I like the optimism, but there a number of teams we want no part of playing.
 
#8
#8
If you think so highly of Aldridge, then how the HELL did we blow out the Longhorns in their house?!?! You can't use the Cal player, as I said "that we have played".

Just because Rondo has an ability to break the press /w speed doesn't mean it won't cause him to make mistakes. Did you watch them play Ark yesterday? Ark pressed late, forcing a couple of turnovers by Rondo, Sparks, and Morris. It was too little too late, but I also think our press is more effective than what Ark was throwing at them.

We lead the league in steals and turnover/assist ratio...
 
#9
#9
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
If you think so highly of Aldridge, then how the HELL did we blow out the Longhorns in their house?!?! You can't use the Cal player, as I said "that we have played".

Just because Rondo has an ability to break the press /w speed doesn't mean it won't cause him to make mistakes. Did you watch them play Ark yesterday? Ark pressed late, forcing a couple of turnovers by Rondo, Sparks, and Morris. It was too little too late, but I also think our press is more effective than what Ark was throwing at them.

We lead the league in steals and turnover/assist ratio...
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By Cal, I was referring to Memphis coach John Calipari. I'm pretty sure we played them and the difference in the game was Shawne Williams scoring at will in the post during the final five minutes of the game. I'm not the only one who feels that way about Aldridge. If he enters the draft this year, he'll be a first round pick, not an undrafted never was like Morris. Steals are more the result of anticipation than quickness. I'm pretty sure Brewer, Modica, et al would beat our guys in a relay race.
 
#10
#10
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
If you think so highly of Aldridge, then how the HELL did we blow out the Longhorns in their house?!?! You can't use the Cal player, as I said "that we have played".

Just because Rondo has an ability to break the press /w speed doesn't mean it won't cause him to make mistakes. Did you watch them play Ark yesterday? Ark pressed late, forcing a couple of turnovers by Rondo, Sparks, and Morris. It was too little too late, but I also think our press is more effective than what Ark was throwing at them.

We lead the league in steals and turnover/assist ratio...
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If you aren't sold on my evaluation of Aldridge and Brewer, read Chris Ekstrand's column on si.com today.
 
#14
#14
Sorry, I didn't recognize the slang for the coach of UM. Of course, I missed that game, so I have no idea how good/bad we played against them. Point being, you say we aren't all that good, blah blah... we've beaten two top 10 teams. I don't see that as a fluke. And one of those teams had one of your high and mighty forwards playing.
 
#15
#15
the reason aldridge wasnt that big of a factor was because we fouled out 2 guys i believe defending him. they fronted him and if they lobbed it over, we just fouled him and made him shoot free throws...

but, he is only a sophomore and if he left this year he would prob. be a top 10 pick
 
#16
#16
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
Sorry, I didn't recognize the slang for the coach of UM. Of course, I missed that game, so I have no idea how good/bad we played against them. Point being, you say we aren't all that good, blah blah... we've beaten two top 10 teams. I don't see that as a fluke. And one of those teams had one of your high and mighty forwards playing.
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Very interesting interpretation of my comments. I guess you're one of those fans that thinks anyone who doesn't believe Dane Bradshaw would school Dwayne Wade 1 on 1 is somehow dissing UT.
 
#17
#17
I don't see how you could get that impression, seeing as how the player we were disagreeing about their skill was Randolph Morris. I THINK that you agree with me that the Vols have poor inside presence... you just disagree about the effect Morris could have against the Vols.

So the real question here is not how well you think he matches up nationally, but how well he matches up against the TN forwards... things fell apart from there, since I said, if the Vols stay in their gameplan they can play /w almost anyone in the country. Its your perrogative to disgree on both counts. I could care less what you think, I've put my two cents in.
 
#18
#18
(hatvol96 @ Jan 30 said:
Aldridge played. Brad Buckman didn't.
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I remember Buckman didn't play, but Gibson was the other guy I was thinking of that got injured a few minutes into the game.
 
#19
#19
(rwemyss @ Jan 30 said:
I don't see how you could get that impression, seeing as how the player we were disagreeing about their skill was Randolph Morris. I THINK that you agree with me that the Vols have poor inside presence... you just disagree about the effect Morris could have against the Vols.

So the real question here is not how well you think he matches up nationally, but how well he matches up against the TN forwards... things fell apart from there, since I said, if the Vols stay in their gameplan they can play /w almost anyone in the country. Its your perrogative to disgree on both counts. I could care less what you think, I've put my two cents in.
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I think you're being optimistic about how we match up nationally. The SEC isn't very good this year. Also, I would be interested to see how many people on the board think we want another round with Texas. I was simply extrapolating your comments about my post. I never said the Vols weren't good, I simply think they may not be as good as their record would indicate. Remember, LSU lost to every good team they played in the nonconference portion of the season. Now they're dominating the SEC.
 
#20
#20
Not to be an apologist for the Tigers, but their 5 losses are by a combined 11 points. Whether that is any indicator of how close those games were or not, I dunno, but I DO know how it looks.

You still can't deny the Vols their wins over TX and UF. There are probably between 8-10 teams I wouldn't readily show up to TBA thinking that the Vols were going to win. At some point the exception becomes the rule.

The only litmus test we're going to get from here on out is in the NCAA tourney... but unlike others, I have faith that we can make the Sweet 16.
 
#21
#21
i think we can take kentucky out. i wish we could have played them earlier in the year though they are getting better with each game. if we shoot well it should be 2 W's for the vols.
 
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